The Hindu Business Line : Anti-dumping probe on Chinese silk imports

THE Designated Authority in the Commerce Ministry has initiated anti-dumping investigation into import of mulberry raw silk (not thrown) originating in or exported from China.

In an initiation notification issued here today, the Authority has said that the Central Silk Board has filed the petition on behalf of all cottage/filature/multiend silk reelers and farmers located in the States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh through their associations.

The petitioner has claimed that goods produced by it are like articles to the goods originating in or exported from China.

There is sufficient evidence that the normal value of the product under consideration in China is significantly higher than the price at which it has been exported to India indicating that the subject goods are being dumped by the exporters from China.

Apart from this, the various economic indicators relating to domestic industry such as production, sales, profit/loss, collectively and cumulatively shows that the domestic industry has suffered injury.

Earlier, in the Lok Sabha, the TDP leader, Mr Yerranna Naidu, and the former Prime Minister, Mr Devegowda, moved a calling- attention notice on the problems being faced by producers of raw silk in the country.

In a statement, the Union Textile Minister, Mr Kashiram Rana, assured the agitated members that the Government has been closely monitoring the situation. It has initiated several steps, he said enumerating that investigation has been started to see if there is any dumping of silk by China, subsidies and financial support to farmers and reelers is being substantially increased. He said that the Tenth Plan target of sericulture sector has been substantially stepped up by 30 per cent to Rs 450 crore, out of which Rs 186 crore or 41 per cent has been kept aside for centrally-sponsored schemes.

Mr Rana said the Central Silk Board has further agreed to provide a soft loan of Rs 1.5 crore to Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) for purchase of cocoons on condition of state government guarantee. Besides, the Government is considering an increase in import duties to stave off imports.

He said that silk provides livelihood to an estimated 60 lakh persons in farming, reeling, twisting, dyeing and weaving activities and adds above $500 million to the country's export earnings with the country's silk production being estimated at 17,000 tonnes.

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